The Magnolia Blue Eagles opened their 2009 softball season on their brand new ball park March 27 on Hydro Drive behind WalMart by beating Sectional rival Tyler Consolidated 1-0 in a pitchers duel.

Blue Eagle senior hurler Ashley Simmons was on her game as she shut the door on every Silver Knight threat to help give the Blue Eagles the nod. She only struck out three, but limited Tyler Consolidated to three singles, one an infield single and a seeing eye single that just fell off the glove of Magnolia shortstop Bree Carr. The other was a nice blast up the middle, but was erased on a pick-off play by the Eagles catcher Marissa Bosley to Corinne Murdock.

However, the Knights Katilyn Goudy was just as effective, she struck out seven Blue Eagle batters, while not walking a batter in the seven inning battle. Two of the Eagle hits had eyes just like their Knights, by Carr and Murdock. The first one was a bloop single and the other was a seeing eye single that scored the game-winner in the fourth frame. The other single was hard grounder up the middle by Simmons.

After both teams fell in order in the first frame, the Knights got the first hit of the game, a solid single. However, she was doubled off the base on a nice diving catch by Simmons and a heads up throw to first for the double play to get out of a jam.

Goudy and company clipped the Eagles wings in the bottom half of the second. Simmons struck out the first two Knight batters in the third and the Knights went deep to left, but not deep enough as Kelsi Heasley got under it for an easy out.

The only tally came in the bottom of the fourth. Carr got on base on a seeing eye single to start the inning. After stealing second and moving to third on a fielders choice Carr trotted home on a two-out Simmons single for the games only tally.

In the top of the fifth, the Knights Rachel Yoho reached base on a single that Carr climbed the latter at short that just fell out of her glove on a nice attempt. Simmons bore down and struck out the next batter to get out of the inning unscathed.

The Knights made one last grasp in the top of the seventh. Heather Suter singled and stole second after two outs, but was stranded at second as Carr threw out the next batter on a nice play at short to end the game.

It was a tough game to lose and a nice game to start the season on a good note, beating Tyler Consolidated.

For the Lady Knights Samantha Jones, Yoho and Suter each singled, as did the Eagles Simmons, Carr and Murdock.